Ultrasonography of the equine stifle

SUMMARY Seven horses with stifle injury are reported with emphasis on the use of ultrasonography vs. radiography in diagnosis. Two had medial meniscal damage associated with collateral ligamentous sprain, fracture or with haemarthrosis. Two had a periarticular abscess, In 1 horse communicating with the lateral femorotibial joint. One foal had haematogenous focal subchondral epiphyseal osteomyelitis extending in the overlying articular cartilage. One horse had osteochondrosis dissecans, the detached fragments migrated and attached to the capsule of the lateral femorotibial joint. One foal had periarticular muscle injury associated with peroneal nerve paralysis. Only in the foal ultrasonography was considered the imaging modality of choice. In all other cases ultrasonography and radiography represented valuable and complementary diagnostic procedures.